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Why has the cost of security for the Pan Am Games, now pegged at $239 million, more than doubled since the original estimate?

Sport Minister Michael Chan says the Pan Am Games are on budget even while figures show that security costs are skyrocketing. (Rene Johnston / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Tues., March 4, 2014

When politicians talk about the “cost of security” they’re using a generic term that can cover everything from police helicopters and anti-terror units to the purchase of private guards’ gloves. That’s to say it can cover pretty much anything.

If history is any indicator — just think back to the G20’s stunning $1 billion price tag for “security”— those costs can get out of hand.

And as the Star’s Richard Brennan reports, in the case of the Pan Am Games it seems to be happening once again.

The Ontario government has admitted that security costs for the Games have now hit $239 million. That’s $33 million more than the most recent estimate. And it’s double the original estimate. Those figures include using the Ontario Provincial Police, local police departments and hiring private security.

But despite the soaring price tag, Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government won’t say why the estimates have jumped so fast and so high, and that’s unacceptable.

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Public spending requires public accountability. Yet the Liberals are sending confusing signals about the security budget.

There’s no doubt that the Pan Am Games will be a major boost to the Toronto region, with long-term impacts that will improve infrastructure, transportation and the economy. And, when the games run during the summer of 2015, security will be an important concern.

But questions about costs are still going begging. Is there an actual budget or are taxpayers expected to sign a blank cheque? Why is the latest security estimate so much higher than the original? Were the original estimates lowballed? Did security requirements change? If security costs have doubled, can the government credibly claim that the games are still on budget?

Let’s have some answers.

As Brennan reports, the latest estimate comes near the end of the procurement process for private security firms. A spokesperson for Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur says details on those arrangements will be made public in the “near future.” We hope so.

But Ontarians need to know more than the names of the chosen security firms. So far Queen’s Park has refused to provide any details on the contractual requirements, including the number of private security officers who will be at the games alongside the OPP and local forces.

Concerns about security spending inevitably raise questions about the overall cost as well. Michael Chan, the tourism and sport minister, assured the Legislature this week that “the Pan Am Games is on time, on budget and, perhaps, ahead of time and also under budget.” Really? If security costs have doubled then officials must have found more than $100 million in savings elsewhere. Did they? Or are they playing games with numbers?

Progressive Conservative MPP Rod Jackson picked up on those seemingly conflicting points, saying “It just speaks to the lack of transparency and lack of accountability this government has. You don’t make your budget after you’ve spent the money.” He’s got a point.

The Pan Am Games have already faced controversy over the expenses of senior executives and the firing of CEO Ian Troop whose severance package was $534,000. Given that the total budget for the games is in the $2.5 billion range, it’s possible that the extra security costs are being offset by savings elsewhere. But we just don’t know. And that’s not reassuring.

Unfortunately for the Liberals, Ontario taxpayers — burnt by wasteful spending on gas plants, electronic health records and more — have a heightened sensitivity to exorbitant spending, even in the name of security.

While the games are expected to provide a welcome legacy of affordable housing and state-of-the-art athletic centres, that doesn’t mean hard questions should go unanswered. Transparency, as well as athletic excellence, should be the name of the game.

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